Card storage transfer and positioning device for use in conjunction with card retrieval apparatus

ABSTRACT

An accessory device for increasing the effective card storage capacity of retrieval systems in which edge-notched coded cards are randomly stored in face-to-face upstanding relation on a platen in a card selector apparatus. The accessory device includes a two-piece card tray having a substantially planar bottom panel against which the code-notched edges of the cards rest when stored face-to-face in a vertical disposition, and a retaining structure at least partially surrounding the upstanding cards. The retaining structure is positionable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the bottom panel, thereby facilitating transfer of the cards between the tray and the selector. The retaining structure, when engaged with the bottom panel, cooperates therewith to store the cards in the tray. Alternatively, and when the retaining structure is in the course of being positioned between its engaged and disengaged positions relative to the panel, the retaining structure functions to transfer the cards between a position of support on the bottom panel and a position of support in the card selector.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert D. Parry, deceased late ofCincinnati, Ohio by Margaret G.

Parry, executrix, Cincinnati, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 826,090

[22] Filed May 16, 1969 [45 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee O.K.Partnership Cincinnati, Ohio [54] CARD STORAGE TRANSFER AND POSITIONINGDEVICE FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CARD Primary Examiner-Allen W.Knowles Atlorney- Wood, Herron & Evans ABSTRACT: An accessory device forincreasing the effective card storage capacity of retrieval systems inwhich edgenotched coded cards are randomly stored in face-to-faceupstanding relation on a platen in a card selector apparatus. Theaccessory device includes a two-piece card tray having a substantiallyplanar bottom panel against which the code-notched edges of the cardsrest when stored face-to-face in a vertical disposition, and a retainingstructure at least partially surrounding the upstanding cards. Theretaining structure is positionable between engaged and disengagedpositions relative to the bottom panel, thereby facilitating transfer ofthe cards between the tray and the selector. The retaining structure,when engaged with the bottom panel, cooperates therewith to store thecards in the tray. Alternatively, and when the retaining structure is inthe course of being positioned between its engaged and disengagedpositions relative to the panel, the retaining structure functions totransfer the cards between a position of support on the bottom panel anda position ofsupport in the card selector.

PAIENTEmwv 2 |97| 3,616,902

SHEET 10F 5 INVENTOR.

wrap/14% PATENTEDunv 2 l97| SHEET 2 0F 5 INVENTOR.

CARD STORAGE TRANSFER AND POSITIONING DEVICE FOR USE IN CONJUNCTIONWITI-ICARD RETRIEVAL APPARATUS This invention relates to retrievalsystems which simultaneously search all edge-notched coded cards in adeck of similar card's randomly stored face-to-face in a selectorapparatus and which, in consequence of such search, selectively retrievefrom the deck one or more desired cards; and more particularly, to anaccessory device for card retrieval systems of the foregoing type whichfacilitates the deck of cards in a selector to be rapidly and easilyinterchanged with any one of a large number of similar decks normallystored in a bank independently of the selector, thereby effectivelyincreasing the card storage capacity of the retrieval system from asingle deck to a bank of declts.

A card retrieval system of the type with which the accessory device ofthis invention finds an extraordinarily high degree of utility isdisclosed and claimed in the copending application of Robert D. Parry,for ARTICLE SELECTION SYSTEM, Ser. No. 661,758, now U.S. Pat. No.3,478,877, filed Aug. 4, 1967. ln the Parry system, a plurality ofrectangular cards are provided, each having teeth formed along a sortingedge, preferably the bottom edge, which are selectively removable forcoding purposes and which are spaced from each other by intermediateregistration notches. The cards are also provided with a lock notch andremoved corner section. The lock notch and removed corner section arepositioned along the sorting edge between the group of removable teethand their associated registration notches, and an adjacent transversecard edge herein termed the "trailing edge."

The card further includes a ferromagnetic implant or chip mounted in thetransverse edge of the card opposite the trailing edge, herein termedthe "leading edge."

A plurality or deck of cards, numbering up to approximately 2,000 cards,are randomly stored in face-to-face vertical relation in a card selectorapparatus. The card selector apparatus is provided with a horizontallydisposed planar slotted platen which supports the upstanding cards. Theorientation of the platen and cards relative to each other is such thatthe codenotched sorting edges of the randomly stored cards rest on theplaten with their sorting edges transverse to the platen slots. Disposedin the platen slots are a plurality of code, or sort, bars correspondingin number to, and aligned with, the registration notches formed by thespaces between the codenotchable teeth. The sort bars, which normallyare positioned with their upper edges flush with the top surface of theplaten, are selectively elevatable to an upper, or set, position whereintheir upper edges protrude above the platen into the associated cardregistration notches of the stored cards. Located parallel to the sortbars and opposite the lock notches of the stored cards is a transverselydisposed lock bar which is selectively elevatable to a card lockposition. In the card lock position the lock bar is susceptive of beingpositioned in the lock notches of those cards whose lock notches arealigned with the lock bar. An elongated magnetis transversely disposedrelative to the stored cards opposite and in alignment with theferromagnetic chips implanted in the leading edges of the cards. Theelongated magnet is mounted on a drawerlike structure for movementtoward and away from the implanted ferromagnetic chips of cardspositioned in their normal stored position on the platen, that is, themagnet is mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the sortingedges of the stored cards.

' Card selection in the Parry retrieval system is effected in twosequential steps, namely, an initial separation step and a further orfinal separation step. The initial separation step is accomplished byelevating or setting the sort bars in a pattern conforming to theremoved tooth pattern of the desired card or cards, and thereaftermoving the magnet a distance equal to one tooth in a direction parallelto the sorting edge. Ideally the desired cards, that is, the cardshaving a removed tooth pattern conforming to that of the set sort bars,shift laterally in the direction of their sorting edges a distance equalto the width of one tooth, and in so doing align their removed cornersections in the trailing edge with the lock bar. This movement ispossible because the teeth of the desired cards located adjacent to theset sort bars are removed by virtue of the code notching process. Theundesired cards, that is, those cards with a nonconfon-ning removedtooth pattern, are not free to move in a direction parallel to theirsorting edge, and consequently remain stationary, leaving their trailingedge lock notches aligned with the lock bar. Once initially separated,the desired cards are further separated from the undesired cards bymoving the magnet further in a direction parallel to the card sortingedges an additional distance, the magnitude of which depends on theamount of separation between the selected and unselected cards which isultimately desired.

However, prior to moving the magnet the additional distance necessary toeffect further separation of the desired and undesired cards, the lockbar is elevated to engage the lock notches of the unselected cards whichhave remained stationary and aligned with the lock .bar during theinitial phase of magnet movement. The elevated lock bar does not engagethe lock notches of the desired cards because these cards, in the courseof the initial separation phase of the retrieval process, shiftedlaterally, that is, parallel to their sorting edges, relative to theundesired cards a distance sufficient to locate the lock bar intransverse registry with the removed corner sections of the desiredcards. With the lock notches of only the undesired cards engaged by theset lock bar, the sort bars are reset and the magnet moved further in adirection parallel to the sorting edge. This further separates thedesired cards from the undesired cards which are positively restrainedfrom movementvby the lock bar which engages their lock notches. Thus,the lock bar positively prevents, during the final separation step,selection of undesired cards.

The Parry card retrieval system provides rapid and reliable cardretrieval to a degree heretofore unknown by virtue of its ability tosimultaneously search all cards in the deck positioned in the selectorand positively lock or restrain movement of undesired cards. However, incertain applications the Parry system could be of even greater benefitwere it possible to conveniently use a single card selector apparatuswith a vastly larger number of cards than is possible to store in thecard selector itself. From the standpoint of conveniently useful storagecapacity, the storage capacity of the system, using a single selector,is more or less limited to the capacity of the selector apparatusitself. If the selector apparatus is designed to store a deck of cardsnumbering approximately 2,000, then the conveniently useful storagecapacity of the retrieval system is-2,000.

The only practical way, at present, of increasing the card storagecapacity of the Parry retrieval system is to increase the number of cardselectors and, in turn, correspondingly increase the number of totalcards in the system. The disadvantage of increasing the card storagecapacity in this manner is that the cost of the card retrieval system,which to a large extent is determined by the cost of the card selectors,increases more or less linearly as the card storage capacity of thesystem increases. Thus, a 4,000-card capacity retrieval system utilizingtwo card selectors costs approximately twice that of a 2,000-cardcapacity system utilizing a, single card selector; a 6,000-card capacitysystem utilizing three selectors costs ap proximately three times thatof a single selector, 2,000-card system; and so on.

Of course, it is possible to increase the capacity of a single selectorsystem by removing the cards individually or in groups from the selectorand placing them in a box or other temporary storage device, andsubstituting for the removed cards new cards by the same individual orgroup insertion method. This obviously is not a convenient or workablepractice.

Accordingly, it has been an objective of this invention to in crease theeffective storage capacity of single selector card retrieval systems ofthe type disclosed in the copending Parry application, and do so withoutunduly increasing the cost of the equipment utilized in the system. Thisobjective has been accomplished in accordance with certain principles ofthis invention by adopting a fundamentally different approach to thecard capacity problem which contemplates the use, in combination with asingle card selector apparatus, of a plurality of individual card decksnormally stored in a bank independently of the card selector. The carddecks are each stored in a multipurpose card tray of unique and veryunobvious design which facilitates rapid and easy interchange of thecard deck in the selector with any one of the plurality of decks in thebank. Thus, the card storage capacity of the system is effectivelyincreased from a single deck to as many decks as there are in the bank.

The card trays in a preferred embodiment of the invention are ofgenerally two-piece design, including a substantially planar bottompanel against which the sorting edges of the cards rest when verticallydisposed in face-to-face relation, and a retaining structure at leastpartially surrounding the upstanding cards which is positionable betweenan engaged and disengaged position relative to the bottom panel. Theretaining structure, when engaged with the bottom panel, cooperatestherewith to store the cards in the tray, and when in the course ofbeing positioned between the engaged and disengaged positions, functionsto transfer the cards between a position of support on the bottom paneland a position of support on the platen of the card selector, therebytransferring the cards between the tray and the selector.

In operation, and assuming the absence of any cards in the selector, anyone of the decks of cards in the bank can be operatively positioned inthe selector by merely removing from the bank the tray containing thedesired deck and positioning it relative to the selector such that thebottom panel thereof is substantially coplanar with the upper surface ofthe platen. This done, the retaining structure is moved relative to thebottom panel from its engaged position, wherein it cooperates with thepanel to store the cards in the tray, to its disengaged position,wherein it is located in the selector. In the course of this relativemovement of the bottom panel and retaining structure, the retainingstructure slides the deck of cards, which it surrounds, off of thebottom panel and onto the platen of the selector, thereby completingtransfer of the cards to the selector. The bottom panel is nowdisassociated from the selector, and card selection can commence.Transfer of the cards from the selector to the tray is effected byreversing the foregoing steps.

To facilitate positioning the bottom panel of the tray substantiallycoplanar to the upper surface of the platen as is useful to efiect cardtransfer, the drawerlike structure of the Parry card selector, whichmounts the transverse magnet used in selecting cards, is preferablyfirst moved to its outermost position. In this position the drawercooperates with the platen to support, in the desired coplanar relation,the bottom panel of the tray which is positioned thereon.

A further objective of this invention has been to provide the tray withmeans to maintain the cards properly oriented in vertical face-to-facerelation when stored in the tray bank remote from the selector, whenbeing transferred between the selector and the bank, and when in theselector. This objective has been accomplished by securing to theretaining structure of the tray, a plurality of spaced parallel,vertical separating panels. Because the retaining structure of the trayis operatively associated with the card when the cards are both storedin the tray and operatively positioned in the selector, as well asduring transfer therebetween, the separator panels, which are secured tothe retaining structure, are continuously in operative relation with thecards, maintaining them in the desired orientation at all times.Additionally, since the cards and separating panels are continuouslyassociated by virtue of the separating panels and retaining structurebeing integral, there is no possibility that the trailing edges of thecards will abut the separating panel during transfer to the tray orselector, which would otherwise be likely to occur were the separatingpanels permanently secured either in the selector or to the bottom panelof the tray.

These and other advantages and objectives of the invention will be morereadily apparent from a detailed description of a preferred embodimentthereof taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retrieval system incorporating thecard tray improvement of this invention.

FIGS. 2A-2E are schematic side elevational views of a card selectorshowing the relationship, during different phases of a card retrievalcycle, of the transverse magnet, lock and sorting bars, and desired andundesired cards.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a preferredembodiment of the tray of this invention showing the retaining structurethereof partially disengaged from the bottom panel of the tray.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tray.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tray with the bottom panelthereof supported coplanar to the upper surface of the platen by thedrawer and platen.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic cross-sectional views of the trayshowing the relationship of the various components thereof with respectto the selector apparatus during different phases of the process oftransferring a deck of cards from the tray to the selector.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the card selector prior to aretrieval cycle.

Referring to FIG. 1, a card retrieval system is depicted of the generaltype disclosed in the previously referenced Parry application. Theentire disclosure of the Parry application is specifically incorporatedherein by reference. The retrieval system of FIG. 1 is seen to include akeyboard control console 10, a card selector 12, and a bank 14 of carddecks 16a, 16b... stored in individual trays, to be described, which areconveniently located for easy removal in a case 18. The card selector 12includes enclosed within a housing 13, a stationary horizontallydisposed planar platen 20 which supports a deck of randomly storedvertically disposed cards 22. A transversely disposed elongated magnet24 common to all the cards 22 and in alignment with ferromagnetic chips23 implanted in the cards is secured to a drawerlike structure 26 forsliding movement between an outer position (FIGS. 1 and 5-8 to whichdesired cards are advanced in a manner to be described and an innerposition (FIG. 9) in which the magnet 24 is in contact with theferromagnetic implants 23 when the cards are stored in their normalposition as shown in FIG. 1.

As best seen in FIGS. 2A-2E, the cards 22 each have a toothed sortingedge 32, preferably the lower edge thereof, provided with alternateteeth 34-1 to 34-6 and registration notches 34-1 to 35-6. Each of theteeth 34-1 to 34-6 is susceptive of being encoded by selective removal,as by notching, of the respective tooth. The sorting edge 32 furtherincludes a lock notch 36 located between a group of encodable teeth 34and registration notches 35, and the transverse card edge 38 hereintermed the "trailing edge." Adjacent to the lock notch 36 is a removedportion 40 of the card located intermediate the lock notch 36 and thetrailing edge 38. The card 22 further includes the ferromagnetic chip 23implanted in the card at the comer of the sorting edge 32 and atransverse edge 44 herein termed the leading edge.

When the cards 22 are in their normal unselected position on the platen20 of the selector 12, the registration notches 35-1 to 35-6 and thelock notch 36 are aligned with a plurality of transversely disposed sortbars 48-1 to 48-6 and the lock bar 50 which are disposed transverse to,and in common with, all the cards. Both the sorting bars 48-1 to 4-6 andthe lock bar 50 are appropriately positioned in slots formed in theupper surface of the platen 20. The bars 48-1 to 48-6 and 50 areelevatable from a reset position wherein their upper edges are flushwith the upper surface of the platen to aset position wherein they entertheir associated notches 34-1 to 35-6, and 36, respectively, of cardslocated in the storage position. Elevation of the bars 48-1 to 48-6 and50 is effected by solenoids (not shown) controlled by the keyboardconsole 10.

To select a card or cards 22 having a particular code, for example, acard 22a having teeth 34-2 and 34-6 removed, from among a group of cards22b not having teeth 34-2 and 34-6 removed, from among a group of cards22b not having teeth 34-2 and 34-6 removed, the appropriate sort bars 48are elevated to the set position. Specifically, sort bars 48-2 and 48-6corresponding to the removed tooth pattern of the desired card 22a areelevated to the position shown in FIG. 28. With the sort bars 48-2 and48-6 in a set position, the desired cards 220 having teeth,34-2 and 34-6removed can be laterally shifted in the direction 460 of arrow 46 adistance equal to the width of one tooth, to produce an initialseparation of the desired cards from the undesired cards. However, theundesired cards 22b having tooth 34-2 and/or tooth 34-6 removed arerestrained from lateral movement in the direction 460 of arrow 46 by oneor both of the set or elevated sort bars 48-2 and 48-6, which, in theset position, mechanically interfere with the unremoved teeth 34-2 and34-6 of the undesired cards 22 b.

With the son bars 48-2 and 48-6 conforming to the removed tooth patternof the desired card 22a in the set position, the magnet 24 is shifted inthe direction 46a of arrow 46 a distance equal to the width of one toothto the position shown in FIG. 2C. Those cards free to shift, namely, thedesired cards 22a move with the magnet 24 a distance of one tooth width,effecting an initial separation of the desired and undesired cards.Movement of the desired cards 22a in this fashion aligns the removedportion 40 of the desired cards opposite the lock bar 50. The undesiredcards 22b do not move in the direction 46a of arrow 46 by reason of theengagement of one or more of their unremoved teeth 34-2 and 34-6 withthe set sort bars 46-2 and 46-6, respectively. Consequently, the locknotches 36 of the undesired cards 22b remain aligned with the lock bar50.

Further separation of the desired cards 22a from the undesired cards 22bis effected by elevating to a set position the lock bar 50, and to anunset position the sort bars 48-2 and 48-6, as shown in FIG. 2D. Settinglock bar 50 positively prevents the undesired cards 22b from moving inresponse to the continued movement of the magnet 24 in the direction 46aof arrow 46. Resetting or lowering the set sort bars 48-2 and 48-6 afterthe initial card separation phase enables the selected cards 22a tocontinue movement in the direction 46a of arrow 46 in response tomovement of the magnet 24 in this direction, the desired cards 22a beingfree to move in this direction by reason of the removed portion 40thereof being aligned with the elevated or set lock bar 50. With thelock bar 50 set and the sort bars 48 all in their lower, reset position,the magnet 24 is advanced further in the direction 46a of arrow 46 tothe position shown in FIG. 2E, further separating the desired cards 22afrom the undesired cards 22b.

The trays in which the decks of cards 16a, 16b... are individuallystored in the bank 14 and which are used to transfer the cards from thebank to the selector 12 are best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-5. Referring tothese figures the trays are seen to include a substantially planarbottom panel 51 and a card retaining structure 52. The bottom panel 51is generally rectangular in shape having a length substantiallycoextensive with the length of the platen of the selector l2, and awidth slightly in excess of the length of the sorting edge 32 of a card22 as best shown in FIG. 5. The bottom panel 51 of the tray ispreferablyfabricated of sheet metal and provided with elongated parallellips 53 and 54 which project downwardly from the panel 51 at the frontand rear edges thereof. The vertical dimension of the rear lip 54 isselected such that the upper surface 55 of the panel 51 is coplanar withthe upper surface 56 of the platen 20 when the lower edge of the lip 54rests on a suitably disposed transverse ledge 57 formed in the frontedge of the platen by removal of the corner thereof.

The lip 53, as seen in FIG. 5, is rearwardly displaced from the frontedge of the panel 51 at a distance sufficient to permit it to clear therear surface 58 of a rearwardly extending ledge 59 which supports themarginal front portion of the bottom panel when the drawer 26 isextended to its outer position to facilitate transfer of the cardsbetween tlhe tray and the platen 20 of the selector 12. The lip 53 issufficiently close to the front edge of the panel 51 to prevent thepanel from moving relative to the supporting ledge 59 an amountsufficient to cause the lip to become disengaged from the ledge andthereby destroy the coplanar relation between the upper surface 55 ofthe panel 51 and the upper surface 56 of the platen 20.

The retaining structure 52 also includes opposite side panels 60 and 60,a connecting rear panel 63, and a top panel 65. The rear panel 63 andtop panel 65 are provided at the opposite sides thereof with forwardlyextending lips 63a and downwardly extending lips 65a, respectively,which are connected by suitable means, such as spot welds, to marginalportions of the rear edges and top edges, respectively, of the sidepanels 60 and 60, maintaining the side panels in operative positionparallel to each other and perpendicular to the rear panel 63 and toppanel 65. The top panel 65 further includes lip 65b extending downwardlyfrom its: rear edge which is secured, by suitable means such as spotwelds, to the upper marginal edge of the rear panel 63.

Positioned between the side panels 60 and 60 of the retaining structure52 are a plurality of partitions or divider panels 68 which, when thecards are both stored in the tray and operatively supported on theplaten in the selector 12, as well as when the cards are beingtransferred between the selector and tray, function to maintain thecards in a substantially vertical position. To secure the partition 68in operative association with the retaining structure 52, the partitionsare each provided with tabs 69 and 70 formed integral with and extendingrearwardly and upwardly, respectively, from the rear and upper edges ofthe partition. The tab 69 is configured to engage in locking relationwith a suitably configured slot formed in the rear panel 63, as bestshown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The tab 70 is configured to lockingly engage ina horizontal channel formed by an edge 71 of a forwardly extending lip72 formed integral with the upper portion of the rear panel 63 and anedge 73 of a rearwardly extending lip 74 formed integral with anddisposed parallel to the top panel 65.

A strip 77 having a downwardly and rearwardly extending cam surface 76is secured to the lower surface of the lip 74. Cam surface 76 functionsto cam downwardly the upper corner of the trailing edge of any cardswhose sorting edge is displaced from the upper surface of the platen 20or panel 5] as such card is inserted in the deck.

Mounting structures generally indicated by the reference numerals 80 and80 mount the retaining structure 52 relative to the bottom panel 51 forsliding movement between a fully engaged position (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) anda fully disengaged position (FIGS. 1,7,8 and 9). The mounting structures80 and 80, which are mirror images of each other, each include anelongated block 84 having an outer surface 85, an inner surface 86, anupper surface 87, and a lower surface which is secured in contact withthe upper surface 55 of the bottom panel 51. Formed in the inner surface86 of the blocks 84 are elongated horizontal slots 88 which slidinglyreceive guide ledges 90 extending laterally from the outer surfaces ofthe side panels 60 and 60. Horizontally disposed levers 92 havinginwardly extending detents 93 are mounted for pivotal movement in theforward portion of the slots 88 by vertically disposed pins 94, thelower ends of which are anchored in the blocks 84. Extending downwardlyand integral with a portion of the levers 92 are ears 95 which arebiased by the free ends of leaf springs 96 secured by fasteners 91 tothe outer surfaces 85 of the blocks 84, normally urging the detents 93inwardly toward the surfaces 86 of the blocks. With the detents 93normally positioned as such, the detents engage slots 97 formed in r theretaining structure 52 and the bottom panel 51 is effected by urging theears 95 inwardly, overcoming the bias of the springs 96. This pivots thelevers 92 about the pin 94 to move the detents 93 outwardly of the innersurfaces 86 of the blocks 84, disengaging them from slots 97.

The guide ledges 90 and guide slots 88 are positioned relative to theupper surface 55 of the bottom panel 51, the lower edges 100 of the sidepanels 60 and 60, and the lower edges 101 of the partitions 68 such thatwhen the retaining structure 52 and bottom panel 51 are engaged thelower edges of the side panels 60, 60 and partitions 68 are spaced fromthe upper surface 55 of the bottom panel 51 by an amount at leastexceeding the vertical height through which the sort bars 48 and lockbar 50 are moved when elevated to the set condition during cardselection. With the tray parts so relatively positioned, when theretaining structure 52 is slidingly transferred from the tray to theselector l2 whereat the guide ledges 90 rest on the upper surface 103 ofinwardly projecting stationary guide ledges 104 formed in the sidewallsof the selector, the lower edges 101 and 100 of the partitions 68 andside panels 60, 60 will be spaced sufficiently above the upper surface56 of the platen 20 such as not to mechanically interfere with theelevated sort bars 48 and lock bar 50 during a card retrieval cycle.

The mounting blocks 84 of the trays are provided with a pair ofconveniently configured and located handles 106 which project from theouter surfaces 85 of the blocks 84.

To permit individual cards 22 to be selectively inserted into or removedfrom a deck when the deck is stored in the tray, a pivotal arm 108 isprovided. The arm 108 includes a horizontal central portion 109 disposedtransversely to the partitions 68 and side panels 60 and 60. Arm 108also includes a pair of parallel end sections 110 at one end which arepivotally mounted to the side panels 60 and 60 by pins 111 and at theother end secured to the opposite ends of the center portion 109. Thepivotal arm 108 is movable between a lower position depicted in solidlines in FIG. 3, wherein insertion or removal of cards from the deckstored in the tray is prevented, and an upper position shown in phantomlines in FIG. 3 wherein card insertion and/or removal from the deck ispossible.

To lock the pivotal arm 108 in its lower position, the end sections 110are provided with suitable locking levers 112 positioned in slots 113formed in the end sections 110. The locking levers 112 are provided withinwardly extending detents 114 which are inwardly biased against theouter surface of the side panels 60 and 60 by leaf springs 115 fastenedto the lock levers 112 and the end sections 110. Outwardly extendingears 117 projecting from the side panels 60 and 60 engage the detents114 of the locking levers 112 to prevent the pivotal arm 108 from beingmoved to its upper position. Disengagement of the detents 114 and theears 117 is effected by urging inwardly the angled ends 119 of thelocking levers 112. With the detents 114 and the ears 117 disengaged,the pivotal arm 108 can be freely moved from its lower position to itsupper position.

Assuming the selector 12 is devoid of cards 22 and of the retainingstructure 52, a deck of cards 22 stored in a tray located remotely fromthe selector 12 in the case 18 is transferred to the selector inoperative relationship with the platen 20, sorting bars 48, and lock bar50 in a manner to be described. Specifically, the tray containing thedeck to be transferred is removed from the case 18 and brought to theselector 12 and the drawer 26 is moved to its outer position. The trayis then positioned in the selector 12 as shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6with the lower edge oflip 54 resting on ledge 57 formed in platen 20 andthe lower surface of the front edge panel 51 resting on inwardlyextending ledge 58 of drawer 26 with lip 53 behind the lip 59 of ledge58. With the bottom panel of the tray so positioned, the upper surface55 thereof is substantially coplanar with the upper surface 56 of theselector platen.

The ears 95 of the lock levers 92 are now urged inwardly to disengagethe detents 93 and the slots 97 formed in the guide ledges 90. Thisdisengages the retaining structure 52 and the bottom panel 51,permitting them to slide relative to each other. The pivotal arm 108which is locked in its lower position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 3)by engagement of the ears 117 and the detents 114 is urged rearwardly ina direction parallel to the sorting edges of the cards. As the pivotalarm 108 is urged rearwardly, the guide ledges projecting from the sidepanels 60 and 60 of the retaining structure 52 slide ofl" of the guideslots 88 and onto the guide surfaces 103 of the ledges 104 projectingfrom the walls of the selector 12. As the guide ledges 90 move from aposition in the slots 88 to a position on the ledges 104, the retainingstructure 52 moves from a position overlying the panel 51 to a positionoverlying the platen 20. Movement of the retaining structure 52 in themanner indicated causes the cards 22 initially supported by the uppersurface 55 of the bottom panel 51 to slide from the bottom panel ontothe upper surface 56 of the platen 20, as shown best in FIG. 7.

When the retaining structure 52 and the cards carried thereby have movedfrom the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7, thebottom panel 51 may be removed from its position supported by the ledges57 and 58, and the pivotal arm 108 can be swung from its lower positionshown in FIG. 7 to its upper position shown in FIG. 8. Pivotal movementof the arm 108 is effected by disengaging the detents 114 and thecooperating ears 117, which is accomplished by urging the tabs 119inwardly. With the bottom panel 50 removed and the pivotal arm 108 inits upper position, as best seen in FIG. 8, the drawer 26 can bereturned to its innermost position with the magnet 24 thereof contactingthe ferromagnetic implants 23 of the cards 22, as best shown in FIG. 9.With the drawer 26 and magnet 24 so positioned, the card selection cycledescribed previously in connection with FIGS. 2A-2E may be initiated.Transfer of cards from the selector to the tray for storage in the case18 is accomplished by performing the foregoing steps in reverse order.

Having described my invention, what I desire to claim by Letters Patentis:

1. Apparatus for use in association with coded cards having planar facesand an edge which in at least one operative orientation are disposed insubstantially parallel noncoplanar relationship with their edgesaligned, said apparatus comprising:

a card-selecting mechanism including a card-supporting structure forsupporting a plurality of coded cards which are disposed in at least oneoperative orientation in parallel noncoplanar relationship with theiredges aligned,

a multipurpose device for storing cards independently of saidcard-supporting structure, said cards being stored with their facesdisposed in parallel noncoplanar relationship and their edges aligned,and for transferring said cards between said device and saidcard-selecting mechanism for support by said card-supporting structure,said device including,

a. a planar panel relative to which cards can move when beingtransferred between said device and said cardselecting mechanism, saidplanar panel being normally remotely located and physically disconnectedrelative to said support surface of said card-selecting mechanism, and

b. retaining structure at least partially enclosing said cards andpositionable between first and second positions relative to said panel,and cooperating with said panel, and cooperating with said panel, whenin said first position, to store said cards and, when in the course ofbeing positioned between said first and second positions, to move saidcards relative to said planar panel and thereby transfer said cardsbetween storage in said device and support by said card-supportingstructure, respectively.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multipurpose device includesmeans for slidably mounting said planar panel and said retainingstructure to permit said retaining structure to be easily maintained inoperative position relative to said panel when said retaining structuremoves between its first and second positions when transferring saidcards between storage in said device and support by said selectorsupporting structure, respectively.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting structure has aplanar card-supporting surface adapted to supportingly engage the edgesof cards which are disposed sub stantially perpendicularly thereto,wherein said multipurpose device stores said cards with said cardsdisposed substantially perpendicularly to said panel, and wherein saidapparatus further includes positioning means associated with said planarpanel and with said card-selecting mechanism for positioning said paneland card-supporting surface in coplanar relation to permit said cardsdisposed substantially perpendicularly to said panel and supportingsurface to slide from one of said panel and supporting surface to theother, and thereby facilitate transfer of said cards between storage insaid device and support by said supporting surface in saidcard-selecting mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting structure includes aplanar supporting surface adapted to supportingly engage the edges ofcards which are disposed substantially perpendicularly thereto, whereinsaid multipurpose device stores said cards with said cards disposedsubstantially perpendicularly to said panel, wherein said panel andretaining structure are engaged and disengaged when said retainingstructure is in said first and second positions relative to said panel,respectively, and wherein said multipurpose device includes a pluralityof parallel partitions disposed substantially perpendicularly to saidpanel and mounted for movement with said retaining structure formaintaining cards in substantially perpendicular disposition relative tosaid supporting surface when said retaining structure is in said secondposition and disengaged from said panel and said retaining structure andpartitions are positioned in said selector and said cards aretransferred to said supporting structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multipurpose device includes abarrier movable between one position in which cards stored in saiddevice are selectively removable and another position in which cardsstored in said device are unremovable.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said positioning means includes adraw-type assembly slidably mounted by said cardselecting mechanism formovement, in a direction parallel to the direction in which said cardsslide, between an outer position wherein said assembly at leastpartially supports said planar panel coplanar to said supporting surfaceand an inner position wherein said assembly is adjacent cards supportedon said supporting structure.

7. Apparatus for use in association with coded cards having planar facesand an edge which in at least one operative orientation are disposed inparallel noncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, saidapparatus comprising:

a card-selecting mechanism including a card-supporting structure forsupporting a plurality of coded cards, which are disposed in at leastone operative orientation in parallel noncoplanar relationship withtheir edges aligned,

a multipurpose device for facilitating storage of cards in substantiallyparallel relation independently of said cardsupporting structure and formaintaining said cards when operatively associated with saidcard-selecting mechanism disposed substantially perpendicular to saidcard-supporting structure, said device including a. opposite sidewallsand a central wall interconnecting said sidewalls, said wallscollectively at least partially surrounding a plurality of said cardsand susceptive of being alternatively removably positioned on saidcardsupporting structure and positioned independently of said selectorto facilitate storage of cards by said supporting structure of saidselector and remote from said selector, respectively, a plurality ofpartitions fixed relative to at least one of said walls and dis osed tomaintain cards surrounded by said walls in su stantially perpendiculardisposition to said support structure when said walls and cards arepositioned on said card-supportin g surface, as well as to maintain saidcards parallel when said walls and cards are positioned independently ofsaid selector.

8. A multipurpose device for storing and transferring cards having asorting edge notched in a coded pattern which is useful with acard-selecting mechanism having a card-supporting surface for slidablyengagihg the sorting edges of cards disposed perpendicularly theretowith their edges aligned and further having sorting bars selectivelyelevatable above said supporting surface into engagement with thenotched sorting edges of cards supported on said supporting surface,said device comprising:

a planar panel relative to which the sorting edges of cardsperpendicularly disposed thereto are adapted to slide when cards aretransferred between storage in said device and support by saidsupporting surface in said selector, said panel having front, rear andopposite side edges,

a retaining structure positionable between engaged and disengagedpositions relative to said panel, said retaining structure including atleast opposite sidewalls and an interconnecting member, and beingsusceptive of disposition with said opposite sidewalls perpendicular tosaid panel and in association with said opposite side panel edges,respectively, when said retaining structure and panel are engaged, andsusceptive of disposition remote from said panel when said retainingstructure and panel are disengaged, and

mounting means for slidably mounting said planar panel and said oppositesidewalls to permit said retaining structure to be maintained inoperative position relative to said planar panel when said retainingstructure moves between its engaged and disengaged positions to transfersaid cards between storage in said device and support by said supportingstructure.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said retaining structure furtherincludes a plurality of partitions disposed parallel to and between saidopposite sidewalls for maintaining cards enclosed by said wallsperpendicularly disposed relative to said supporting surface when saidretaining structure is positioned in said selector.

10. The device of claim 9 further including a barrier movable between afirst position whereat said barrier is adjacent said front edge andspans said opposite sidewalls for enhancing the retainment of cardsstored in said device and a second position whereat said barrier isnonadjacent said front edge to facilitate removal of cards stored insaid device.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said interconnecting member is a rearwall and wherein said retaining means includes a top panel means spacedfrom said planar panel and spanning said opposite sidewalls forengaging, when said cards and retaining structure are in said selectingmechanism, cards at the edge opposite their sorting edge for preventingdisengagement of said card-sorting edges and said supporting surface.

12. The device of claim 11 further including means associated with saidopposite sidewalls and engageable with said selector mechanism formaintaining said partitions in noncontacting relationship with saidsorting bars when said bars are elevated.

1. Apparatus for use in association with coded cards having planar facesand an edge which in at least one operative orientation are disposed insubstantially parallel noncoplanar relationship with their edgesaligned, said apparatus comprising: a card-selecting mechanism includinga card-supporting structure for supporting a plurality of coded cardswhich are disposed in at least one operative orientation in parallelnoncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, a multipurpose devicefor storing cards independently of said card-supporting structure, saidcards being stored with their faces disposed in parallel noncoplanarrelationship and their edges aligned, and for transferring said cardsbetween said device and said card-selecting mechanism for support bysaid card-supporting structure, said device including, a. a planar panelrelative to which cards can move when being transferred between saiddevice and said card-selecting mechanism, said planar panel beingnormally remotely located and physically disconnected relative to saidsupport surface of said card-selecting mechanism, and b. retainingstructure at least partially enclosing said cards and positionablebetween first and second positions relative to said panel, andcooperating with said panel, and cooperating with said panel, when insaid first position, to store said cards and, when in the course ofbeing positioned between said first and second positions, to move saidcards relative to said planar panel and thereby transfer said cardsbetween storage in said device and support by said cardsupportingstructure, respectively.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidmultipurpose device includes meanS for slidably mounting said planarpanel and said retaining structure to permit said retaining structure tobe easily maintained in operative position relative to said panel whensaid retaining structure moves between its first and second positionswhen transferring said cards between storage in said device and supportby said selector supporting structure, respectively.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said supporting structure has a planar card-supportingsurface adapted to supportingly engage the edges of cards which aredisposed substantially perpendicularly thereto, wherein saidmultipurpose device stores said cards with said cards disposedsubstantially perpendicularly to said panel, and wherein said apparatusfurther includes positioning means associated with said planar panel andwith said card-selecting mechanism for positioning said panel andcard-supporting surface in coplanar relation to permit said cardsdisposed substantially perpendicularly to said panel and supportingsurface to slide from one of said panel and supporting surface to theother, and thereby facilitate transfer of said cards between storage insaid device and support by said supporting surface in saidcard-selecting mechanism.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidsupporting structure includes a planar supporting surface adapted tosupportingly engage the edges of cards which are disposed substantiallyperpendicularly thereto, wherein said multipurpose device stores saidcards with said cards disposed substantially perpendicularly to saidpanel, wherein said panel and retaining structure are engaged anddisengaged when said retaining structure is in said first and secondpositions relative to said panel, respectively, and wherein saidmultipurpose device includes a plurality of parallel partitions disposedsubstantially perpendicularly to said panel and mounted for movementwith said retaining structure for maintaining cards in substantiallyperpendicular disposition relative to said supporting surface when saidretaining structure is in said second position and disengaged from saidpanel and said retaining structure and partitions are positioned in saidselector and said cards are transferred to said supporting structure. 5.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multipurpose device includes abarrier movable between one position in which cards stored in saiddevice are selectively removable and another position in which cardsstored in said device are unremovable.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said positioning means includes a draw-type assembly slidablymounted by said card-selecting mechanism for movement, in a directionparallel to the direction in which said cards slide, between an outerposition wherein said assembly at least partially supports said planarpanel coplanar to said supporting surface and an inner position whereinsaid assembly is adjacent cards supported on said supporting structure.7. Apparatus for use in association with coded cards having planar facesand an edge which in at least one operative orientation are disposed inparallel noncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, saidapparatus comprising: a card-selecting mechanism including acard-supporting structure for supporting a plurality of coded cards,which are disposed in at least one operative orientation in parallelnoncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, a multipurpose devicefor facilitating storage of cards in substantially parallel relationindependently of said card-supporting structure and for maintaining saidcards when operatively associated with said card-selecting mechanismdisposed substantially perpendicular to said card-supporting structure,said device including a. opposite sidewalls and a central wallinterconnecting said sidewalls, said walls collectively at leastpartially surrounding a plurality of said cards and susceptive of beingalternatively removably positioned on said card-supporting structure andpositioned independently of said selector to facilitate storage of cardsby said supporting structure of said selector and remote from saidselector, respectively, b. a plurality of partitions fixed relative toat least one of said walls and disposed to maintain cards surrounded bysaid walls in substantially perpendicular disposition to said supportstructure when said walls and cards are positioned on saidcard-supporting surface, as well as to maintain said cards parallel whensaid walls and cards are positioned independently of said selector.
 8. Amultipurpose device for storing and transferring cards having a sortingedge notched in a coded pattern which is useful with a card-selectingmechanism having a card-supporting surface for slidably engaging thesorting edges of cards disposed perpendicularly thereto with their edgesaligned and further having sorting bars selectively elevatable abovesaid supporting surface into engagement with the notched sorting edgesof cards supported on said supporting surface, said device comprising: aplanar panel relative to which the sorting edges of cardsperpendicularly disposed thereto are adapted to slide when cards aretransferred between storage in said device and support by saidsupporting surface in said selector, said panel having front, rear andopposite side edges, a retaining structure positionable between engagedand disengaged positions relative to said panel, said retainingstructure including at least opposite sidewalls and an interconnectingmember, and being susceptive of disposition with said opposite sidewallsperpendicular to said panel and in association with said opposite sidepanel edges, respectively, when said retaining structure and panel areengaged, and susceptive of disposition remote from said panel when saidretaining structure and panel are disengaged, and mounting means forslidably mounting said planar panel and said opposite sidewalls topermit said retaining structure to be maintained in operative positionrelative to said planar panel when said retaining structure movesbetween its engaged and disengaged positions to transfer said cardsbetween storage in said device and support by said supporting structure.9. The device of claim 8 wherein said retaining structure furtherincludes a plurality of partitions disposed parallel to and between saidopposite sidewalls for maintaining cards enclosed by said wallsperpendicularly disposed relative to said supporting surface when saidretaining structure is positioned in said selector.
 10. The device ofclaim 9 further including a barrier movable between a first positionwhereat said barrier is adjacent said front edge and spans said oppositesidewalls for enhancing the retainment of cards stored in said deviceand a second position whereat said barrier is nonadjacent said frontedge to facilitate removal of cards stored in said device.
 11. Thedevice of claim 9 wherein said interconnecting member is a rear wall andwherein said retaining means includes a top panel means spaced from saidplanar panel and spanning said opposite sidewalls for engaging, whensaid cards and retaining structure are in said selecting mechanism,cards at the edge opposite their sorting edge for preventingdisengagement of said card-sorting edges and said supporting surface.12. The device of claim 11 further including means associated with saidopposite sidewalls and engageable with said selector mechanism formaintaining said partitions in noncontacting relationship with saidsorting bars when said bars are elevated.